Prototype to Model

Prototype to Model, also known as PtoM, is a relatively new section in Model Railroader magazine. Editor Eric White publishes photos of models that replicate an actual prototype image. When my dear friend Andy submitted this photo, his intention was for the Trackside Photos section of the magazine. However, Eric responded, informing us of this new segment in the magazine called PtoM. 

The first photo is by George Barnard, the photographer who accompanied Sherman during his Atlanta Campaign, showing the Atlanta yards in1864, after the Union capture of the city. A few weeks later, the Car Shed, or passenger station, along with all rail facilities were destroyed by the Union forces.

The photo below shows what Andy did to blend my layout with this image. Can you tell which aspects are modeled?

NMRA AP Entries - Certificate Achieved!

I have embarked on the NMRA AP (Achievement Program). To date, I have received certificates for scenery, structures, author, volunteer, and cars. I was motivated to go this route because a couple of NJ Division Members indicated that I had most of the work done. It was just a matter of completing the paperwork. Here are the cars I recently had evaluated for the Equipment - Cars certificate.

This is Adams Express was scratch-built. The trucks are a unique feature known as a "swing truck". It was designed to handle tight curves. This model is based on two period photos. The one below the model was taken in 1863 or 1864 in the Nashville yards. The other is in Chattanooga. This latter photo was the basis for the walls, doors, and roof, which was tin.

This is a modified platform car kit by Mantua. In addition to the artillery, by Musket Miniatures, I added Alexander link & pin couplers, the device attached to the car which is known as a draw head.

Open top cattle car. This is scratch-built on a Mantua frame. The walls and doors are board-by-board construction.

Conductor's car. Scratch built from two images. These could also be called a Way car and were used primarily for the conductor

A BTS (Better Than Scratch) kit, flat cars were one of many different railroad cars used to transport military personnel. Worst situations was when wounded troops were transported in cattle cars, recently occupied by cattle.